Bowers & Wilkins 803 D5

The 803 D5 is the most compact 800 Series Diamond model to feature the iconic Turbine Head configuration — and for many rooms, it is the most practical route to reference-level Bowers & Wilkins performance. Martin's Hi-Fi is the second oldest Bowers & Wilkins dealer in the world, and the 803 D5 is a loudspeaker we regard as genuinely significant.

Diamond Dome Tweeter & Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top

The 803 D5 carries the same Diamond dome tweeter found throughout the 800 Series Diamond range. Diamond is the hardest known material, and its stiffness pushes the tweeter's break-up frequency to 70kHz — far beyond the audible range — so what you hear is a high-frequency presentation of extraordinary clarity, precision and openness. The Solid Body Tweeter-on-Top mounting isolates the tweeter from cabinet vibration entirely, removing a source of coloration that conventional tweeter placement cannot avoid.

Continuum™ Cone FST Midrange

The 803 D5 uses a Continuum™ cone in its FST midrange driver — a material developed entirely in-house by Bowers & Wilkins. The FST (Fixed Suspension Transducer) design eliminates the conventional surround, removing a source of distortion at the frequencies most critical to the intelligibility of voices and instruments. The result is midrange reproduction of exceptional naturalness and low-level detail.

Aerofoil™ Bass Drivers & Turbine Head

Two 180mm Aerofoil™ bass drivers handle the low frequencies. The Aerofoil™ cone profile varies in thickness across its surface — stiff where rigidity matters, lighter at the outer edge — allowing the cone to move with greater speed and precision than a conventional design. These drivers are housed within the Turbine Head enclosure, a separate mid/bass cabinet whose curved form minimises internal standing waves and reduces diffraction from the cabinet edges.

Enhanced Matrix™ & Space Frame Bracing

The 803 D5 benefits from an upgraded Matrix™ internal bracing system. Matrix™ divides the cabinet interior into a lattice of small, heavily damped chambers, each too small to sustain a resonance. For the D5 generation, aluminium Space Frame Bracing and an all-new aluminium top section have been added to the cabinet, reducing resonance further and contributing to a more precise and spacious presentation. An Anti-Resonance plug is fitted to the midrange driver to further damp unwanted cabinet interaction.

Cabinet Design & Finishes

The 803 D5 cabinet is formed from a single continuous curve, locked in place by a solid aluminium spine. This geometry reduces internal reflections and cabinet diffraction — both of which colour the sound in ways that are difficult to measure but straightforward to hear. The 803 D5 is available in Stealth Black, Warm White, Light Walnut and Dark Walnut, each with matching Leather by Connolly trim.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The 803 D5 suits the serious listener whose room cannot accommodate the 801 D5 or 802 D5 but who refuses to compromise on the core Bowers & Wilkins 800 Series technology. Its sensitivity of 90dB and nominal impedance of 8Ω make it a tractable load for a wide range of high-quality amplification, though it will reward a genuinely capable amplifier — we would be happy to advise on pairing at the showroom.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

The 803 D5 can be heard at our Norwich showroom — we recommend booking a dedicated listening session so we can set up the demonstration properly for your amplification and your music.

When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.